Hydrangea plant named ‘Monmar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Monmar’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; strong dark purple-colored stems; freely and remontant flowering habit with numerous sterile flowers per inflorescence; and large inflorescences with pink-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MONMAR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Monmar’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofHydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmer’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,298. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by theInventor on a single flowering plant of ‘Bailmer’ in a controlledoutdoor environment in Pasadena, Calif. in June, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative cuttingsin a controlled environment in Visalia, Calif. since May 21, 2010 hasshown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Monmar’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Monmar’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Strong dark purple-colored stems.    -   4. Freely and remontant flowering habit with numerous sterile        flowers per inflorescence.    -   5. Large inflorescences with pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the parent,‘Bailmer’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of ‘Bailmer’primarily in stem color as plants of ‘Bailmer’ have green-colored stems.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Monred’, not patented. Plants of the new Hydrangea differfrom plants of ‘Monred’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Monred’ differ in stem color        as plants of ‘Monred’ have green-colored stems.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have a remontant flowering habit        whereas plants of ‘Monred’ do not have a remontant flowering        habit.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of theHydrangea macrophylla ‘Merritt's Beauty’, not patented. Plants of thenew Hydrangea differ from plants of ‘Merritt's Beauty’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Merritt's Beauty’ differ in        stem color as plants of ‘Merritt's Beauty’ have green-colored        stems.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have a remontant flowering habit        whereas plants of ‘Merritt's Beauty’ do not have a remontant        flowering habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Monmar’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Monmar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the spring in five-gallon containers in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse in Visalia, Calif. and underenvironmental conditions and cultural practices which closelyapproximate commercial Hydrangea production conditions. Plants were nottreated with aluminum sulfate. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 21° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 13° C. to 16° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were 18 months oldwhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Monmar’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Hydrangea    macrophylla ‘Bailmer’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,298.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two to three weeks at            temperatures of 24° C. to 38° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 to 60            days at temperatures of 24° C. to 38° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly            spreading plant habit; rounded in shape; strong and sturdy            stems; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 55 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 58 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about twelve            lateral branches per plant.        -   Length.—About 52 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 6.8 cm.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Strength.—Strong and sturdy.        -   Color.—Close to N186C; developed stems, close to N199C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 17.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 11.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Mostly cuneate, occasionally oblique.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; Venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single four-lobed sterile and small            rounded fertile flowers arranged on terminal compound            corymbs; corymbs globular in shape; flowers face upright to            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hydrangea flower            from June until frost in California; flowering remontant.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about three weeks on the            plant, flowers persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 254            sterile and about 64 fertile flowers per corymb.        -   Corymb height.—About 8.5 cm to 9 cm.        -   Corymb diameter.—About 15 cm to 16 cm.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 4 mm to 7 mm.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.        -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:            About 6 mm. Shape: Orbicular. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Shape: Orbicular. Color: Close to 84C.        -   Petals, fertile flowers only, sterile flowers without            petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five in a single            whorl fused at the base. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About            2.5 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened,            upper surface: Close to N66D. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 75A.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About            four, occasionally five, in a single whorl; sepals            imbricate. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape:            Elliptical. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 155D;            towards the apex, tinged with close to 75D. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 76D. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 75B; towards the base, close to 76D; color becoming            closer to 76C to 76D with development and subsequently            becoming light yellow green in color. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 76B; color becoming closer to 76D with            development.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About            five in a single whorl; fused at the base. Length: About            1 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Roughly ovate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to            157C. Color, lower surface: Close to 157A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to N187A.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter:            About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 60C to 60D.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter:            About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 60C to 60D.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers only; sterile flowers            without reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower:            About eight to ten. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament            color: Close to 68B. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length:            About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 158C. Pollen amount:            Sparse. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma            shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to NN155C. Style            length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 68C. Ovary color:            Close to 63D.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Disease & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,    plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant    to pathogens or pests common to Hydrangea.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about −26° C. to about    38° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Monmar’ asillustrated and described.